Chapter 221: Innate Spiritual Item, Skynet Intelligence

However, no one expected that at this moment, Zhou Chen was in a temporary Immortal Cave opened on a small hill not far from Eastern Desolation City.

Zhou Chen sat cross-legged, the simple ring floating before him as Elder Xuan's remnant soul emerged from it.

"Elder Xuan, regarding Possession, are there any particular details? I don't know much about this yet."

Zhou Chen asked.

Elder Xuan fell into deep thought for a moment: "Possessing another's Physical Body will inevitably incur Karma. The resentment of the one being possessed will haunt the possessor for life; if one's Heart-Nature is not firm, it is easy to suffer Qi Deviation."

"Then what should be done?"

"The best way is to find an Innate Spiritual Item nurtured by heaven and earth."

A sharp light flashed in Elder Xuan's eyes: "These types of spiritual items are creations of heaven and earth, without parents or relatives, and will not cause any karmic entanglements after Possession. Moreover, the body of an Innate Spiritual Item is pure and flawless, making it most suitable to host this old man's remnant soul; perhaps I can even take this Opportunity to go a step further."

Zhou Chen nodded: "Understood, I will go and inquire for information immediately."

"Where are you going to inquire?" The Ring Spirit was startled, not expecting Zhou Chen to be so concerned about his affairs.

"Eastern Desolation City."

Zhou Chen stood up: "It's a place where dragons and snakes mingle; information is most readily available there."

"Act with caution."

Elder Xuan warned: "You are currently a primary target of the Jiang Family and the Ying Family's pursuit; these two Emperor clans strike the most ruthlessly and are the most shameless."

Zhou Chen smiled, black mist surging in his hands as the Divine Concealment Art began to operate. In the next moment, his appearance completely changed; with a black robe added to his frame, his entire aura became cold and eerie.

"Don't worry, they won't recognize me."

As his voice fell, Zhou Chen's figure flashed and disappeared from the Immortal Cave.

In Eastern Desolation City, Cultivators came and went on the streets, which remained as prosperous as ever.

People bustled about the streets, and various cries of street vendors rose and fell.

Zhou Chen walked through the crowd in his black robe, not appearing out of place.

After all, there were too many people hiding their identities in the cultivation world; black-robed travelers were not rare.

Just as he entered a commercial street, a thin and small figure approached him.

"This Fellow Daoist, you look like a new face. Is this your first time in Eastern Desolation City?"

Zhou Chen turned to look; it was a middle-aged man in his thirties with a shifty, rat-like appearance—at a glance, he didn't look like an honest person.

"Is something the matter?"

Zhou Chen said in a low voice.

"Hehe, I am Chen Fan, a local snake of Eastern Desolation City."

The man rubbed his hands with a flattering smile: "Whatever news Fellow Daoist wants to know, you can't go wrong looking for me, Chen Fan. For just three Low-Grade Spirit Stones, I guarantee your satisfaction."

Zhou Chen sized up this fellow named Chen Fan. Looking at the opportunity panel, the other party wasn't lying, even the name was real. He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly; indeed, one cannot judge a book by its cover.

Someone who looks like a swindler isn't necessarily a real swindler.

However, this guy certainly knew how to do business, specifically targeting unfamiliar faces from outside.

"Is that so?"

Zhou Chen's tone was flat: "Then tell me, where is a place that specifically deals in information?"

Chen Fan's eyes darted around: "Fellow Daoist is looking for big news. This…"

After speaking, Chen Fan rubbed his fingers together.

"How much?" Seeing his appearance, how could Zhou Chen not understand? He asked for the price directly.

"This news isn't cheap."

Chen Fan held up three fingers: "Thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Zhou Chen didn't speak, just quietly watched him.

Chen Fan felt uneasy under the gaze and gave two dry laughs: "That… twenty stones?"

Zhou Chen still didn't speak; seeing that this guy was relatively sincere, he directly threw out a crystal-clear High-Grade Spirit Stone.

Chen Fan's eyes instantly lit up as if he had seen a peerless beauty. He grabbed the Spirit Stone and stuffed it into his bosom, fearing Zhou Chen would regret it.

"Fellow Daoist… no, Big Brother is generous!"

Chen Fan gave a thumbs up and lowered his voice: "The place you are looking for is called Skynet, the largest intelligence organization on the Tianxuan Continent. As long as the price is right, you can buy any information."

"Where is Skynet?"

"This…"

Chen Fan rubbed his hands again.

Zhou Chen gave a cold snort and turned to leave.

"Don't, don't!"

Chen Fan quickly caught up: "Big Brother, don't go, it was just a joke. I'll say it, I'll say it. Skynet's Eastern Desolation branch is at the Red Dust Pavilion in the east of the city."

"Red Dust Pavilion? Is that a brothel?"

"Hehe, it is a brothel."

Chen Fan said mysteriously: "But that's no ordinary brothel. After you go in, find a girl and say the secret code 'Na Du Tong,' and naturally someone will receive you."

Zhou Chen nodded, ignored Chen Fan, and turned to walk towards the east of the city.

Chen Fan watched Zhou Chen's back, feeling the High-Grade Spirit Stone in his bosom, grinning so wide his mouth wouldn't close: "I'm rich, I'm rich. This is enough for me to drink and have fun for half a month."

East of the city, Red Dust Pavilion.

This three-story pavilion was magnificently decorated, with red lanterns hanging at the door and a scent of rouge and powder wafting through the air.

Zhou Chen walked in, and a young brothel servant immediately came to greet him.

"Please come in, guest!"

The servant smiled so much his eyes narrowed into slits: "Every girl in our Red Dust Pavilion is a beauty of the mortal world, guaranteed to satisfy you."

"I'm looking for someone."

Zhou Chen's voice was low: "I'm looking for Na Du Tong, please announce me."

The smile on the servant's face stiffened, then returned to normal: "Guest, please wait a moment, I'll go call someone."

After a short while, a woman walked over gracefully.

The woman wore a long red dress, her figure very graceful with enticing curves. Her appearance was charming, her eyes carrying three parts flirtatiousness and seven parts cold elegance. As she walked, her waist swayed lightly, and her hem rose and fell with her steps, outlining her perfect figure to the fullest.

"Guest, I am Chi Mei."

The woman's voice was soft and numbing, enough to make one's bones feel a bit weak. "I heard you are looking for Na Du Tong?"

Zhou Chen nodded, while simultaneously checking the woman's opportunity panel with a thought.

[Name: Chi Mei]

[Destiny: Quasi-Emperor Realm, Heavenly Secret Clan Saintess, stops at Emperor Realm Eighth Layer.]

[Opportunity: None]

Zhou Chen's heart stirred.

Heavenly Secret Clan Saintess? This identity was not simple.

Rumor had it that the Heavenly Secret Clan specialized in deducing heavenly secrets; it was said the Heavenly Secret Old Ancestor could peer into the long river of destiny, though no one knew if it was true or false.

But what was even stranger was that this woman's opportunity panel had three golden entries, indicating very strong cultivation talent, but her recent Opportunity actually showed 'None'.

One must know that even ordinary people would have some small opportunities, yet this woman's was a complete blank.

"Could it be that she cultivated some special technique that temporarily shielded her from heavenly secrets?"

Zhou Chen speculated in his heart.

"Guest?"

Seeing Zhou Chen not speaking, Chi Mei reminded him softly.

Zhou Chen snapped back to reality: "Take me somewhere we can talk."

"Please follow me."

Chi Mei turned toward the stairs, and Zhou Chen followed. When they reached the end of the second floor, Chi Mei stopped at an inconspicuous door and pressed a few times on it.

With a click, the sound of a mechanism turning came from behind the door.

The door opened, revealing a staircase leading downward.

"This is the true branch of Skynet."

Chi Mei explained to Zhou Chen and led the way down.

Zhou Chen followed her down about a hundred steps, and the view suddenly opened up.

It was a sizeable underground space, decorated in an ancient style. A few landscape paintings hung on the walls, and potted plants were placed in the corners. A sandalwood table sat in the center, with a tea set on it, steam rising.

"Please sit."

Chi Mei sat on one side of the table and poured a cup of tea for Zhou Chen, saying: "Guest, what intelligence do you require?"